The Steam Machine now supports AMD’s FSR 4.1 upscaling technology—provided you switch to “Proton Experimental” in the settings and the game uses the FSR upgrade mechanism. This way, even titles that officially only support FSR 3.1 can be automatically upgraded to the newer version. At the same time, Valve has announced a timeline for the open pre-orders and provided a CAD file of the case.
Key Points at a Glance
- FSR 4.1 runs on the Steam Machine via Proton Experimental—a game update isn’t necessary if the title supports the FSR upgrade mechanism.
- All pre-orders are expected to receive a purchase offer by the end of 2026, selected at random and sorted by model and region.
- An official CAD file of the exterior geometry is available on GitLab—serving as the basis for custom faceplates and mounts.
FSR 4.1 on the Steam Machine – Here’s How It Works
AMD’s latest upscaling technology, FSR 4.1, can now also be used on the Steam Machine. To do this, switch to Proton Experimental in the settings; additionally, the game in question must support the FSR upgrade mechanism. The best part: Even games that only support FSR 3.1 can take advantage of FSR 4.1 without requiring developers to release an update.
Proton is the compatibility layer maintained by Valve and CodeWeavers that translates Windows system calls for the Arch Linux-based SteamOS. The “Experimental” branch always contains the latest changes, while regular Proton versions are released only after a sufficient testing phase—the current major version is Proton 11.0. AMD explains the technical details of the upgrade process in a separate developer article.
Pre-orders: Valve Aims to Fulfill All Orders by the End of 2026
In a new Steam blog post, Valve explains how the waitlist is being processed. Each variant—512 GB or 2 TB SSD, each with or without a Steam Controller—has its own pre-orders and waitlist, separate for each region. By the end of 2026, Valve aims to have made a purchase offer for the desired model to everyone in the queue.
Valve processes incoming orders daily, with the order determined by a random selection from the pre-order queue. The company only draws from the separate waiting list once the reservations for a specific model in a region have been completely processed. This also explains why delivery times vary depending on the variant and location.
Prices of the Steam Machine Variants
| Steam Machine | 512 GB SSD | 2 TB SSD |
|---|---|---|
| Without Steam Controller | 1,039 euros | 1,359 euros |
| With Steam Controller | 1,108 euros | 1,428 euros |
Official CAD file for faceplates and accessories
Also new: A CAD file containing the external geometry of the Steam Machine is available for download on GitLab, uploaded by well-known Valve employee Pierre-Loup Griffais. This file can be used to design custom-fit accessories such as faceplates or mounts. In early July, Valve had already published information on how to replicate an E-Ink front panel. The extent to which Valve is currently focusing on its own hardware is also evident from the fact that the company is simultaneously preparing the Steam Store for the Steam Frame VR headset.
Conclusion
This update makes the Steam Machine noticeably more appealing: FSR 4.1 boosts image quality in many games without requiring any effort from developers, the pre-order schedule provides clarity for those waiting, and the CAD file opens the door to a small accessories ecosystem. Anyone still waiting for their device should have a purchase offer in their inbox by the end of 2026 at the latest.
